NAHL: Weekend Preview for Three-Game Set with Generals

This weekend the Knights are hoping to gain back momentum after a tough weekend against Philadelphia, which included an overtime loss, when they host the Northeast Generals. Although the Knights took 10 of the 12 meetings between the two teams last year, this season’s Northeast squad is looking much more formidable. Early on in the season they’ve taken the top of the division by storm with an impressive 10 wins and two losses. Another impressive offense stands before the Knights, this weekend, but this season the teams’ defense has been just as impressive.

The defense is led by goalies Christian Stoever and David Tomeo, who have a combined save rate of .922 and average just 2.59 goals against. The two have led the Knights to allow just three goals or less in seven of their last eight games. Coach Tom Kowal stated in a recent interview that pair was, “The number one reason we are 5-1.” Apart from Stoever and Tomeo, the Knights have recently acquired defenseman Mick Henneghan via a trade. Henneghan has been known for his gritty play and puck-moving ability.

The Knights welcome back two key members of the team this weekend in Jack Olmstead and Tom Farrell. The pair missed last weekend’s games in Philadelphia. Olmstead (3-4-7) is one of the top three point scorers on the team. The other two leaders, Matt Kidney (3-6-9) and Curtis Carlson (3-3-6), are also big contributors to the Knights offense.

The Generals, though, will pose a big challenge for the Knights to overcome. The team currently has the top three scorers in the NAHL. Matt Wiesner with 6-9-15, Mike Egan with 5-9-14, and Anthony Quatieri with 4-9-13, are offensive threats that the Knights will need to shut down in order to come out of the weekend with six points. The Generals have six of the top ten scorers in the league, and average almost four goals a game. The team is in the top 5 for power play scoring in the NAHL, with a 27.5 percent success rate. Even though the Northeast team is impressive offensively, their defense is nothing to scoff at either.

Netminders David Fessenden and Marko Sturma combine for a 2.50 GAA and a .925 save percentage. Fessenden has plenty of prior experience against the Knights. Counting all his games against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2016-17 (including one with the Minnesota Magicians) the hulking, 6-6 goalie was 2-3-0 with a goals against average of 2.40 and a stop percentage of .940. This season his steady play continues, as he has accumulated a 5-2 record, with a GAA of 2.31, and a save percentage of .929.

The team will take the ice tonight and tomorrow at 7:30 PM and 2:00 PMon Sunday. Games will take place at the Revolution Ice center, tickets are $5, and the games will also be available on HockeyTV.com. You can also Follow @WBSKnights on Twitter to catch live updates on all games.